Cable-tramway support and shield for aerial railways.



PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905. v 0. MESSIGK, JR. v CABLE TRAMWAY SUPPORT AND SHIELD FOR AERIAL RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21. 1904.

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' I 0. MESSIGK, JR- v CABLE TRAMWAY SUPPORT AND SHIELD FOR AERIAL RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED APBIZI. 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented January 17, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CABLE-TRAMWAY SUPPORT AND SHIELD FOR AERIAL RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters l-atent No. 780,434, dated January 17, 1905.

Applicationfileii April 21,1904. SerialNo. 204.192.

T 0 a. whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES MESSICI(,'J1., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hackensack, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new'and useful Improvement in Cable-Tramway Supports and Shields for Aerial Railways,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a new cable-tramway shield especially adapted for aerial railways, which is a removable approach-plane, independent of the cable yet resting upon it, and to provide a shield of the above character which is practicable for long spans and which will be economic both with respect to the construction and erection and which will not tend to laceratethe cable; The

detail construction lies in the shield made of two independent parts, one for each directionof the travel of the car; but in the event a track is to be traveled in one direction only the shield is constructed, preferably, in but one partthat is, the part extending toward the approaching car.

Another purpose of the invention is to so construct the improved shield or shields as to obtain a plane which will automatically ac commodate itself to the ascension of the car to the point of support without retarding the progress of the car and so that after'the car has risen to such height itlwill pass onto the cable without causing an impactor vibration.

An additional feature of my invention is that the improved shield can be made stronger and at much less expense than any of which I have knowledge, the only strain which itis called upon to withstand beingthe weight of the car at its center. The shield is supported at one end by a cable and at the other end by a bracket-hanger or like device. 7

Another feature of the invention is to so construct the shield that it rests upon the cable by its own weight and requires no internal member to hold it from lifting up from the cable, and, further, as the cross-bolts employed are only used to increase the rigidity of the shield the shield may be removed and renewed or replaced without disturbing the cable on the support.

tion and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the improved shield of the double type and a section of cable in connection with which itis used. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the shield shown in Fig. 1, a car having just passed over the shield, a

section of cable and a portion of the car being alsoillustrated. Fig. 3 is asectional plan view of the central portion of the shield illustrated in Figs. '1 and 2. v Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken practically on the line 4 1 of 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a section of cable and a slightly-modified form of shield. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show side elevations of the said shield wherein the cable is Within the shield. Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of the form of shield shownin Figs. 6, 7, and 8.

The invention consists in the novel construc-- Fig. 10 is a side elevation of what may b ,75

termed a single shield. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a section of cable and its supports and two of the shields used in connection with the cable, one at each support; and Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the supports and an end of the car and likewise an end of the shield, the cable being in section. Fig. '13 is a vertical section through a terminal loop or hood for the shield, illustrating a construction whereby the loop is prevented from chafing the cable under the weight of the car. Fig. 1 1 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 13, but illustrating a slightlydifferent construction of loop; and Fig. 15 is a partial side elevation of the shield and a sectional side elevation of the loop orhood pivotally connected with the shield.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, A represents the cable, and B the improved shield therefor, and this shield is constructed in two pivotallyconnected sections t and b. The sections are of like construction and are made from T-iron, embracing a web 10 and a horizontal flanged head 11, on which the cable rests, and the said cable passes beneath loops or hoods 12,

secured at the outer ends of the sections of the said shield, the heads 11 of the sections being cut away at that point, and spacingblocks 13 are secured to opposite sides of the webs of the sections of the shield. These spacing-blocks and the loops are held together by means of suitable bolts 13, as is best shown in Fig. 41. The sections of the shield are pivoted between upwardly-extending and connected lugs 14, secured upon bracketarms 15, extending outward from the supporting-posts 16 for the cable, as is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. The pivotal connection between the sections of the shield is effected by attaching plates or straps 17 and 18 in any suitable or approved manner to the web members of the sections 6 and b of the shield at their inner ends, and these plates or straps 17 and 18 extend beyond the inner ends of the sections of the shield, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and are outwardly bowed. (Jorresponding outwardly-bowed members are made to overlap each other between the lugs 14, a pivot-pin 19 being passed through the said lugs and the overlapping inner ends of the said straps 17 and 18, as is also best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In the space between the bowed portions of the straps 17 and 18 a guide-pulley 20 is pivoted on the pin 19, and the said cable A passes over this guide-pulley 20 and through the loops 12 between the upper portions of the loops and the flanged or upper edge portions of the sections of the shield. It will be observed that each section acts independently of the other and that when a car H approaches any of the sections its wheels will pass readily over the upper edges of the loops 12, which are rounded, and the cable is effectually prevented from buckling while the car is moving over the section which it had approached. In this manner it will be obvious that the speed of the car will not be retarded by any buckling or loops which ordinarily formin a cable when a car approaches a support for the cable.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slight modification of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the cable is designated as A and the shield as C, being constructed in two sections 0 and 0', likewise made of T-iron. These sections 0 and 0' are provided at their outer ends with loops 12 corresponding to the loops 12 in the form shown in Fig. 1, and near the inner end of each section 0 and a of the shield C loops 12 are formed, and the cable passes beneath four loops instead of but two. The pulley 2.0 is therefore omitted. Furthermore, under this form of shield the two inner ends are not brought together, but are independently pivoted in lugs 14, carried by bracketarms 15, the lugs and the bracket-arms being the same as heretofore described.

In" Fig. 6 the shield is designated as D, and as in the other views it is divided into two independently-pivoted sections, (designated as (Z and d.)

This form of shield D differs from the other forms of shield described, inasmuch as the sections are in the form of an inverted U in cross-section, and the cable A extends within the sections of the shield below the upper surface of the same. The sections (Z and (Z of the shield meet at their inner ends on a diagonal line 22, (shown in Fig. 9,) and the two sections are pivotally connected to the lugs 1 1 and bracket-arm 15, heretofore alluded to, by means of asingle pivot-bolt23, as is also shown in Fig. 9. Bolts or rivets 21 are passed through the lower portions of the sections (land a of the shield for the purpose of strengthening the same, and sundry of these rivets or bolts are utilized as lower supports for the cable A l urthermore, in the construction of this form of the shield friction or guide rollers 25 are located in each section near the meeting ends of the sections, and these rollers 25 are below the cable A, serving as roller-supports therefor. It will be observed that under this construction the action of the sections of the shield will be identical with that of the constructions heretofore described.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated another departure, in which E represents the shield, and this shield, as in the former constructions, is in two parts a and a and is U-shaped in crosssection, as has been described relative to the construction shown in Fig. 6; but preferably the lower edges of the sections of the shield at their outer ends are upwardly inclined. as shown at 27 and the cable A passes through the sections of the said shield beneath their upper portions, as in Fig. 6. Bolts or rivets 26 are employed to strengthen this construction of the shield, and sundry of them are utilized to support the lower portion of the cable A more of such rivets being used for that purpose than in the construction shown in Fig. 6. The sections a and e at their inner abutting ends are connected with what may be termed a rule-joint 28, a pivot-pin 29 passing through theknuckles and likewise through lugs 14, carried by a bracket-arm 15, as in the other constructions named. The cable A under this construction is supported at its center by a grooved pulley 30, corresponding to the pulleys 25 and the pulley 2i), and this guide-pulley 30 is located below the cable, yet in engagement therewith, and is pivoted on the pivot-pin 29 between the members of the sections of the shield where the said members connect. The upper connection between the two sections (2 and (3 is preferably a straight one, although the diagonal contact shown in Fig. 9 may be employed, if so desired.

1n the construction shown in Fig. 8 the shield F therein illustrated is divided, as are the other shields, into two sectionsf and 1. These sections are also inverted-U shape in cross-section and are so connected as to have the inclined abutting edges shown in Fig. 9.

The section f, however, extends beyond the lugs 14, utilized as pivots and carried by the above-mentioned bracket-arm 15. The pivot, pin 3O is passed through the section f near its inner end and through the aforesaid lugs 14. The section f of this shield F is pivoted to the section f at one side of the sustaining-lugs 14E byrneans of a suitable pin 31, and

observed that the operation in this form of the device is the same as that described in connection with the forms heretofore mentioned.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated what is a single form of the shield, in which but one member Gr is employed, and this member is inverted-U shape in cross-section and is pivotally attached to a horizontal arm G. The said arm is sustained in any suitable manner by the bracket-arm 15 referred to and is provided with top and bottom flanges 35, the upper flange or head constituting a guide or bearing for the wheels ofthe carriageH, and

.normally the upper or tread surface of the upper head or flange 35 is in horizontal alinement, or practically so, with the outer upper surface of the arm. The arm G is likewise provided with connecting or strengthening bolts or rivets 38, and some of these are employed as guides for the lower portion of the cable A which passes through the said arm G, and the said cable likewise passes beneath the upperflange 35 of the bar Gr. It may be here stated that preferably this bar is in the shape of a channel-iron, and a suitable spacing-block 36 is employed in the channel of the channel-iron where the arm G is pivoted thereto by means of a suitable pivot-pin 37. The abutting connection between the channel bar or iron G and the arm G may be either straight ordiagonaL'as occasion may require or as may be found most desirable to permit free lineal movement of the cable. In fact, the ofiice and object of each and every form of the device above described is to provide tracksfor cables of tramways to hold the cables in place on brackets and yet permit the passage of the "car over the brackets with a minimum of jar and pounding. for

which device the essential parts are a rest forthe cable of such shape that the cable will not cut or chafe by resting on it, this rest to be located close to the center of the bracket, and the cable is directed in any of the ways illustrated and described either over or beneath the sustaining and guiding shields.

In Fig. 13 I have illustrated the outer tervex.

minal portion of a loop 12 for a shield as provided with an upward curve 40 at the inner face of its upper portion, or such portion of the loop may be said to be more or less C011".

The idea of giving this formation to the loop 12 is to prevent the loop from chafing or cutting the cable as the weighted car passes over it. I

In Fig. '14: I have illustrated a slight modification in the formation of the loop 12, where in at the upper portion of the outer end of the loop the entire loop is slightly upwardly bent, so as to present an inner convexed surface 41 and a more or less outer concaved surface 41, whereas under the construction shown in Fig. 1 the outer surface of the loop 12 above the curved portion 40 is practically I straight.

Under the construction shown in Fig. 15 the loop 12 is shown as pivoted by a single bolt 42to the outer end of a member B of the shield, and the inner face of the said loop at its upperportion is concaved or curved upwardly and outwardly at each end, asis shown .at 12 Under this latter construction the loop 12 will always preserve a vertical position and will" be in the same vertical plane with a line drawn vertically through the pivot portion of the shield, and the loop being curved at each endwhere it engages with the cable will absolutely prevent the said loop from having detrimental wearon the cable and will assist the loop in preserving its vertical position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a supporting and guide shield for cables of cable-tramways, a support, an arm pivoted at or near'one end on the support and extending toward the approaching car, and

means for maintaining the cable in place with reference to an arm, as described.

2. In a supporting and guide shield for the cables of cable-tramways, a support, shields having pivotal relation to each other and to the support, the said shield having guides for; I

the cable, as described.

3. In a supporting and guide shield for the cables of cable-tramways, a support, a shield consisting of two independent sections having pivotal relation to each other and pivotal relation to the support, and loop-guides for the cable, as and for the purpose set forth.

1. In a supporting and guide shield for the cables of cable-tramways, a support, a shield consisting of two independent sections having pivotal relation to each other, and pivotal relation to the support, loop guides for the cable, and roller-guides for the cable inclependent of the loop guides, as described.

5. A support for cables, and shields for the cables having guides therefor and constructed in sections having pivotal relation to the support, the sections having opposed independent action relative to each other, as described.

6. In a supporting and guide shield for the cables of cable-tramways, a support, a shield for the cable, inverted-U shape in cross-section, receiving the cable between its members, the said shield being in two longitudinal sections, roller-supports for the bottom portion of the cables, and a pivotal connection between the sections of the shield and the said support, the sections of the shield being provided with diagonal striking-surfaces at their inner abutting ends, as. and for the purpose described.

7. In a guide-shield for the cables of cabletramways, a shield, and a guide-loop for the cable carried by the shield and provided with an upwardly-curved inner surface at its upper portion, as described.

8. In a support and guide shield for cables of cable-tramways,ashield, a support to which the shield is pivoted, and a guide-loop pivoted at the outer end of the shield, the said guideloop having the under faces of its terminal portions at its ends curved in an upward direction, as set forth.

9. In a supporting-guide for cables, a support, a truss comprising a rigid member located principally beneath the cable and hinged near the support, hung near its free end from the cable and adapted to prevent the cable bending between the free end and the support.

10. In a supporting-guide for cables of a cable-tramway, a support, and arms each pivoted at one end to the support and resting on the cable, the arms extending toward the approaching car, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a supporting-guide for cables, a support, two arms extending from the support, pivoted near the support and having their free ends resting on the cable, the arms having suflicient depth beneath the cable to act as a truss and prevent the bending of the cable between the support and the free ends of the guides.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

(JHARLES MESSICK, 1:.

Witnesses:

J. FRED. Aoium, J NO. M. BITTER. 

